Lingerie, Beer, Crab Legs ---- All for a Good Cause


The sunset load on August 10th got wilder than usual at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, California. Tickets were hot for the "lingerie dive" as our female skydivers
(and a few guys) dressed in their sexiest underwear and loaded up by the dozens on the twin otter. Several raffles of skydiving gear, shopping sprees at Ontario Mills Mall (California), and a grand prize of a Playboy Playmate book, signed by Hugh Hefner himself, were all part of the party as well.

There was music, crab legs, beer, and hot skydiving footage, all in the name of Lisa Parks, a skydiver of 500 jumps, who was diagnosed with Scleroderma, an incurable autoimmune disease.

This is a very difficult disease to live with. Scleroderma litterally means "shrinking of the skin." The disease characteristically causes parts of the skin to become taut, thick, and hard, and often times will complicate, causing loss of extremities or even death. Scleroderma affects 4 times as many women as it does men and varies in its severity. Arthritis in the joints, shortness of breath, and physical alterations of the face and body all make this disease an incredible burden. It is unknown what promotes the disease or how to cure it. Lisa Parks was diagnosed with the disease over 15 years, but her incredible inner-strength keeps Lisa lovin' life and is living that life to the edge, celebrating her 500th jump as an experienced skydiver.

Skydive Elsinore launched its first "Crackin' Crab for the Cure", raising thousands for the Scleroderma Foundation to further assist in bringing awareness to this disease which affects over 300,000 Americans today, an incredible number of people in need for more assistance with this condition. Elsinore plans to carry further fundraisers like this annually, bringing public attention to this highly uner-researched disease in hopes to acquire more life lovers to aid this cause.

Lisa Parks' strength and drive to live for today is an awesome inspiration, not only to other Scleroderma patients, but for anyone, reminding us to enjoy life because it truly is precious. If you would like to help in promoting research to finding a cure for Scleroderma, you may contact the Scleroderma Foundation at 1-800-722-HOPE or go online at www.scleroderma.org.